Convertible furniture



y 20, 1958 w. P. WACHSMAN I 2,834,969

. CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Fil ed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7 Wm Mma n BY I W i/zaalvWa/wbw May 20, 1958 w. WACHSMAN CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Jan. 14, .1955

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CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

May 20, 1958 w. P. WACHSMAN CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 INVENTOR. WWW m United States Patent coNvEarrnLE FURMTURE William P. Wachsmau, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gene A. Gelbspan, Chicago, ill.

Application January 14, 1955, Serial No. 481,790

27 Claims. (Cl. -21) This invention relates to convertible or dual purpose furniture and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a davenport, studio couch or sofa which is adapted to be converted for use as a bed.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a furniture piece which normally serves as a sofa, studio couch or day bed and which may be readily .converted or changed into a sleeping unit comprising an unfolded bed complete with all necessary bedding.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convertible piece of furniture of the type which is normally used as a sofa and which may be converted to a sleeping bed without the removal of any cushions and without the need for making up the bed with sheets, blankets and other bedding, and which provides full deep cushion comfort when used as a sofa and full mattress comfort when converted to a bed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a convertible furniture piece having a sofa cushion unit and a sleeping bed unit which are connected by mechanism which is operative to move the units relative to each other to interchange their position and wherein the uppermost unit is supported in a relaxed or floating position on the lowermost unit when the piece is converted for use either as a sofa or as a sleeping bed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a structure for use in convertible type furniture which consists of generally horizontal seat and bed forming frames which are supported between vertical end supporting and connecting frames which permit the horizontal frames to be readily interchanged wherein the structure is simple and compact in design and adapted to be readily incorporated in a variety of convertible sofa, davenport, or day bed designs.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convertible furniture piece comprising a sofa forming frame, a bed forming frame, end supporting frames and mechanism connecting the sofa and bed frames with the end supporting frames which connecting mechanism is operative to permit the sofa and bed frames to be moved in drawer-like fashion horizontally and vertically relative to 1 moved to position it in the initial position of the sofa unit I erted on the sofa unit to cause the sofa unit and the'bed unit to move forwardly relative to the frame in which they are mounted in drawer-like fashion, with the sofa unit rising initially a suflicient distance to clear the bed unit and also moving forwardly relative to the bed unit, the forward movement of the sofa unit continues until its back edge is above and slightly forward of the front edge of the bed unit when the sofa unit moves downwardly while the bed unit rises and presents a completely madeup bed with the sofa unit in a position to be supported at its outer edge in an extended horizontal position in alignment with the bed unit for use as a twin bed, thedownward movement of the sofa unit is continued to a lower position where it will slide drawer fashion beneath the raised bed unit, where it is accommodated in the space initially occupied by the bed unit, and where it serves as a support in the nature of a box spring for the bed unit which is released or relaxed so that it rests in floating relation upon the same.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convertible piece of furniture comprising a sofa cushion unit, a sleeping bed unit and an end connecting mechanism wherein the end connecting mechanism is operable to selectively position the units interchangeably in superimposed relation and wherein the end connecting mechanism includes a frame structure and an elongate pivot arm which is connected at its ends to the sofa and bed units and which has a sliding pivotal connection with the frame structure intermediate its ends whereby the sofa and bed units are interchanged with a sliding and pivoting movement relative to the end frame structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convertible furniture piece having a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned in horizontal alignment or in superimposed relation and end supporting frames having mechanism connecting the seat and bed frames thereto wherein the end supporting frames include a horizontal track formation and the connecting mechanisms include a pivot arm member which is pivotally connected at spaced points to the ends of the seat and bed frames and which has an intermediate pivot member adapted to be slidably and pivotally supported by the track formation whereby the weight of the bed frame is balanced about the pivot member by the weight of the seat frame during movement of the frames into and out of their aligned and superimposed positions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a convertible furniture piece having a sofa cushion unit and a sleeping bed unit which are connected by end supporting mechanisms wherein the end supporting mechanisms are operable to interchange the units to adapt the piece for use either as a sofa or as a bed, and wherein a motor is incorporated in the end supporting mechanisms for moving the sofa and bed units.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a convertible sofa which embodies therein the principles of the invention, with the sofa cushion and bed units and their associated supporting and shifting mechanism being shown schematically;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the sofa cushion and bed units and their associated supporting and shifting mechanism being rolled out from under the sofa back;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the sofa unit fully extended and supported to form with the uncovered bed unit a double bed;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the sofa unit fully depressed and partially retracted beneath the bed unit;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the sofa unit fully retracted beneath the bed unit and with the sofa converted for use as a single bed;

Fig. 6 is a partial rear elevation with the back of the sofa broken'away-to show the location of the sofa and bed unit end supporting and shifting mechanism;

Fig. -7 is an end, elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the sofa and bed units and their associated supporting and shifting mechanism with the sofa and bed units in sofa forming position, the view being taken on the line 77 of-Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view with portions broken away and to an enlarged scale, the view being taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig, 9 is a view to an enlarged scale taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8',

Fig. 10 is'a section taken on the line l0 10 of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12'12 of Fig. 7; Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 7;

Fig. and

Fig. is a section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawing the invention as illustrated is embodied in a sofa structure which comprises a sofa unit consisting of a rectangular supporting frame 10 having a conventional sofa cushion arranged thereon and a bed unit consisting of a similar rectangular supporting frame 11 having a bed mattress of the same size and shape as the cushion on the sofa unit. Both the sofa cushion and the bed mattress are preferably made of foam rubber but they may be of inner spring or any other suitable construction. The sofa frame 10 is located immediately above the bed frame whenthe device is in use as a sofa. The opposite ends of both frames 10 and 11 are mounted on end supporting frames or mechanisms 12 which are of identical construction except for being rights and lefts so that they face each other with the frames 10 and 11 forming a connecting structure between them. The frames 10 and 11 are connected to the end supports 12 by mechanisms which permits the frames 10 and 11 to be moved relative to each other and to the end supports 12 so that these frames may be shifted to and from the several positions required in order to convert the apparatus from sofa use to bed use and vice versa. In the normal position when the device is adjusted for use as a sofa the superimposed sofa. and bed units and their end supporting mechanisms 12 are in retracted position as in Fig. 1 with the end suporting mechanisms 12 housed in the hollow compartment forming sofa arms 13 and the rearmost portions of the units are positioned in the space 14 (Fig. 2) beneath the sofa back 15 which extends between and connects the arms.13 in the usual manner. The sofa arms 13 may be connected by cross braces or a frame (not shown) extending between the bottom edges thereof beneath the sofa and bed units and the entire sofa frame may be made knock-down to facilitate handling and shipment.

, The supporting mechanisms 12 at the ends of the frames 10 and 11 each comprise a frame which may be conveniently formed of plate sections welded or otherwise connected to provide aninverted U-shaped construction consisting of a front vertically extending plate 16 (Fig. 7) and a rear vertically extending plate 17 with an inwardly facing relatively narrow channel-shaped connecting member 18 which extends between the tops of the end plates16 and 17. Each end supporting frame 12 is supported initially on a pair of track forming members 19 and 20 which are mounted in fixed relation at the bottom of each sofa arm 13. The forward track member 19 is adapted to support a front roller 21 which is rotatably mounted on the outer side at the lower end of the front vertical plate 16. The forward track member. 19 has a forwardly and downwardly sloping track surface 22 14 is a section taken on the line 1414 of Fig.

' normally provided on a sofa seat.

and an elevated semi-circular seatformation 23 which supports the roller 21 in its. initial position of rest and holds the front end of the mechanism 12 in an elevated position. The rear track member 20 is in the form of a vertical plate provided with a track surface on the upper edge which comprises a rear elevated portion 24 which is arranged at a somewhat higher level than the track surface 23 and which is adapted to support a grooved roller 25 secured on the outer side at the lower end of the rear vertical plate 17. The elevation of the track surface 24 on the rear track member 20 relative to the elevation of the track surface 23 on the forward track 19 is such that the entire mechanism is supported, when the rollers 21 and 25 are in engagement with these track surfaces, in a rearwardly inclined position to give the top surface of the sofa cushion the pitch toward the back 15 which is The rear track member 20 extends forwardly with a downward and then upward sloping track surface which terminates in a semicircular seat formation 26 which is adapted to support the rear roller 25 in an-elevated position in which the sofa and bedframes 10 and 11 are in horizontal position with the entire end supports 12 extended as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 and the frontroller 21 supported on the floor in front of the sofa. The intermediate portion of the track on member 20 permits the rear end of mechanism 12 to drop down at the beginning of the forward movement a sufilcient distance to clear the bottom edge of the sofa back 15 (Fig. 2).

The end frame 12 is provided with a stud shaft 27 (Fig. 10) at the front end adjacent the. top of the front end plate 16 which extends inwardly of the plate 16 and carries in rotatable relation thereon outer and .inner sprocket members 28 and 29, the inner sprocket 29 being somewhat smaller in diameter than the outer sprocket 28. The rear end plate 17 carries adjacent its top end a rotatable shaft 30 on the outer end of which there is secured a drive sprocket 31. The shaft 30 carries on an inwardly extending portion a pair of outer and inner sprocket members 32 and 33 which are of the same diameter as the corresponding sprocket members 28 and 29, respectively, at the forward end of the frame 12, and which are connected thereto in driving relation by outer and inner chains 34 and 35, so that the sprockets 28 and 32 move in unison and the sprockets 29 and 33 also move in unison upon movement of the respective connection chains 34 and 35.

The top sofa frame 10 is provided at its forward end with an outwardly opening channel forming a track 36 of generally C-shaped cross section. The track 36 extends from the front end of the frame 10, where it is closed by a stop pin 37, to an intermediate portion of the end of the frame 10 where it is closed by a stop pin 38. The track 36 is adapted to receive a roller 39 which is mounted onan inwardly extending pin 40 on the front end of a pivot arm 41. The frame 10 is adapted to move initially relative to the arm 41 when it is pulled forwardly of the roller 39 until the roller 39 reaches the stop pin 38 at the inner end of the track 36 when further movement of the frame 10 will exert a pull on the end of the pivot arm 41.

The sofa frame 10 is provided at its rear end with an outwardly extending pivot pin 42 (Fig. 11) which is supported on a depending vertical. bracket 43 attached to the end of the frame 10. The pivot pin 42 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a link 44 of the outer chain 34. In the initial sofa forming position of the mechanism 12 the pivot connection with the'link 44 or the axis of pivot pin 42 is located rearwardly of the axis of the shaft 30 so that movement of the chain 34 and rotation of the sprocket 32- in a counterclockwise or forward direction about the shaft 30 will elevate the frame 10 a relative short predetermined distance. The frontend portion of the sofa frame 10 also carries a cam forming angular track 45 (Figs. 7 and 10) which has a beveled portion 46 at its forward end aligned for engagement with a roller member 47 which is rotatably mounted on the inner end of the stub shaft 27 so that forward movement of the frame elevates the forward end of the same and causes the roller 47 to ride beneath the track 45, the latter extending to a point which is spaced from the rear end of the frame 10. As the frame 10 is pulled or moved forward and carries the chain 34 in the forward direction, due to the pivotal connection 44, the frame 10 will move in a horizontal plane until the roller 47 reaches the end of the track 45 when the frame 10 is freed from its support on the roller 47. Further movement in the forward direction causes the pin 42 or pivot connection 44 to move downwardly around the front of the sprocket 28 and carries the top sofa frame 10 to a lower level extending forwardly of the supporting mechanism in a horizontal plane with the lower bed frame 11 rising in a manner which will be described.

The lower bed frame 11 is pivotally connected at its forward end to the inner front sprocket 29 by means of a pivot pin 48 which extends inwardly of an arm 49 which is fixed on the inner face of the sprocket 29 and a roller bearing 50 which is mounted in a depending bracket arm 51 on the end of the frame 11. With this connection initial movement of the sprocket 29 in the counterclockwise direction will elevate the forward end of the bed frame 11. The frame 11 is provided at its rear end with a relatively short track-like bearing member 52 (Fig. 11) of channel-shaped cross section which receives a roller bearing 53 on the end of a pivot pin 54 which extends inwardly of a radial arm 55 secured on the inner sprocket 33 so that movement of the sprocket 33 in the counterclockwise direction raises the rear end of the frame 11. The two sprockets 29 and 33 being connected by the chain 35 are rotated in unison upon movement of the chain 35 and the pivots 48 and 54 elevate the frame 11 while holding it in a horizontal plane.

The bed frame 11 also carries at its rear end an outwardly opening track forming channel 56 which is adapted to receive the roller 57 on the rear end of the rear portion 58 of the pivot arm 41. The rear portion 58 of the pivot arm 41 is offset from the forward portion of the arm 41 at the connecting point 59 and extends at a slight angle thereto, so that as the pivot arm 41 is pulled or moved in a forward direction the roller 57 is carried in the track 56, the track 56 extending forwardly to a point beyond the center of the frame 11.

Pivot arm 41 has a downwardly extending side arm 60 forwardly of the connecting point 59 which carries a roller 61 which is rotatably mounted on the end there of and which is adapted to be received in a track forming channel 62 which is secured to the outside of the front vertical plate 16 of the end support frame and extends rearwardly thereof to an intermediate point on the frame and is open for a short distance at the lower end at 63 permitting the roller 61 to move free of the track when in the relaxed position as it is shown in Fig. 7. The roller 61 acts as a traveling pivot support moving in the track 62 and when the upper sofa frame 10 is in fully extended position, the weight of the sofa frame 10 is applied about the roller 61 as a pivot to assist in raising the lower bed frame 11.

The bottom rear fixed track carries at its front end a vertically extending plate support or fork member 64 which is mounted on the top of a post 65 seated in a socket 66 and urged in the upward direction by a compression spring 67. The fork-like plate member 64 has an upwardly opening slot 68 which is at the upper end of a rearwardly and downwardly tapered cam forming edge 69. The fork member 64 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly tapered front cam edge 70. Both of the cam edges 69 and 70 operate to depress the fork member 64 at predetermined points in the 0pera- 6 tion of the mechanism. The slot 68 is adapted to receive a pin 71 which extends inwardly of the outer chain'34 and which locks the chain against movement relative to the fixed track member 28 when the pin 71 is engaged in the slot 68 as in Fig. 7. top or sofa frame 10 exerts a pull on the chain 34 through the pivot connection 44 which results in forward movement of the chain 34 and also of the entire end frame structure towards the front edge of the sofa. The sofa frame 10 and the end supporting mechanism 12 move forwardly simultaneously with the sofa frame moving ahead of the mechanism 12 until they reach'the positions shown in Fig. 2 where the sofa frame 10 and the bed frame 11 are leveled, the rear end of the support ing mechanism 12 is moved clear of the back 15 of the sofa and the front side edge of the sofa frame 10 extends forwardly of the end supporting mechanism 12 and the bed frame 11. As movement of the chain 34 pulls the entire supporting mechanism 12 to the point shown in Fig. 2 the cam edge 69 on the forked plate" member 64 is engaged by a cam member 73 which projects downwardly of an intermediate connecting bar 74' (Fig. 13) extending between the frame end plates 16 and 17. The cam member 73 depresses the forked plate 64 against the force of the spring 67 and releases the pin 71 from engagement in the slot 68 and frees the chain 34 for movement relative to the supporting tracks 19 and 20. At this point the rear support roller 25 is positioned in the seat 26 and the end supporting frame comes to a stop in the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the end supporting mechanism comes to rest in its forward position further pull on the sofa frame 10 causes the chain 34 to move while the end supporting frame members and the bed frame 11 remain in relatively fixed position with the sofa frame 10 moving forwardly toward the fully extended position where the rear edge thereof is positioned above and slightly forward of the front edge of the bed frame 11. The forward movement of the chain 34 moves the pivot pin 42 to a position above the inner front end sprocket 29 where it engages with the upstanding end of the arm 75 (Figs. 2 and 10) on the bell crank which is pivoted at 76 to the inner face of the inner sprocket 29 and which has its other end 77 weighted to hold the arm in proper position between the spaced stop members 78 and 79 on the sprocket 29. Continued movement of the sofa frame 10 in the forward and then downward direction causes the two sprockets 28 and 29 to move in unison about the shaft 27 and results in the arms 49 and 55, which carry the bed frame 11, moving counterclockwise around the shafts 27 and 30 to elevate the bed frame 11.

The continuing forward movement of the sofa frame 10 after the chain 35 is released by depressing the forked plate member 64 moves the stop in 38 at the end of the track 36 on the sofa frame 10 into engagement with the roller 39 on the pivot arm 41 which pulls the pivot arm 41 in a forward direction and engages the roller 61 in the track 62 so that when the sofa frame 10 is in the fully extended forward position and begins to move downwardly about the sprocket 28 the weight thereof on the end of the pivot arm 41 is effective through pivot roller 61 to assist in lifting or elevating the bed frame 11 to its uppermost position. As the sofa frame 10 is moved downward by movement of the pivot connection 44 around the first sprocket 28 the pivot arm 41 swings about the roller 61 as a pivot until the sofa frame 10 is in a position to retract or more backwards towards the rear of the sofa and the end frame structure. The lower run of the chain 34 and the pivot arm 41 support the sofa frame It) as it moves rearwardly with the weight being carried by the pivot connection 44 and the pivot roller 39.

The inner sprockets 29 and 33 are locked against movement to hold the bed frame 11 in elevated position by a mechanism which comprises a stop arm member 80 Initial movement of the (Figs. 7 and 14) of angular shape which is pivoted at oneend on the inner endof the shaft 30 :and which extends toward the front of the mechanism. The arm 80 carries a pin 81 which is adapted to be engaged in a lockingslot 82 in a downwardly extending trip arm or lever..8 3 whichis pivoted at 84 to the rear end frame plate 17. The trip lever 83 is spring urged in a clockwise direction. The stop arm 80 is held in locked position by an inwardly extending stop pin 85 on the inner face of the inner sprocket 33. Upon initial movement of the sprocket 33 the pin 85 travels counterclockwise to a position where it engages the top edge of the arm 80 and holds the latter in locked position. holds the crank arms 49 and 55 up just past 180 degrees and locks them against movement in either direction, the bed frame 11 being elevated to permit the sofa frame to roll beneath the same.

As the sofa frame 10 moves toward itsfinal retracted position the pivot roller 61 drops free of the track 62 and the pivot arm no longer provides a support for the front of the sofa frame 10. At this point the front of the sofa frame is supported by a roller 86 mounted on an inwardly extending stub shaft 87 on the inner face of the front end plate 16 which roller 86 is engaged by the track 45 on the end of the sofa frame 10.

The stop arm 80 is unlocked by engagement of pivot pin 42 on the chain 35 with the trip lever 83 as the chain carries the pin 42 to its final position beneath the center of the sprocket 32. The pin 42 first engages the cam surface 88 on the end of the stop arm 80 and lifts the arm 80 which separates the pin 81 from its locking slot 82 and thereafter strikes the lever arm 83 permitting the arm'tit) to fall downwardly and allowing the sprocket 33 to rotate. This releases the rear of the bed frame 11 and allows it to relax or rest upon the sofa frame 10 when the latter is in its final retracted position beneath the bed frame 11.

Upon its return movement, the pivot pin 42 on the chain 34 engages the cam surface 89 on the end of the stop arm 80 and elevates the arm 80 to engage the pin 81 in the slot 82 on the spring pressed lever arm 83 thereby rotating the sprocket 33 by engagement of the arm 80 with the stop pin 85 on the sprocket 33 and causingthe bed frame 11 to be raised by the clockwise movement of the crank arms 49 and 55 to provide clearance for outward or return movement of the sofa frame 10.

The. drive sprocket 31 is secured on the shaft 30 between the end frame plate 17 and an outer end bearing in a bearing support bracket 90 which is secured to the outer face of plate 17. The sprocket 31 is connected by a chain. 91;with :a drive sprocket 92 at the lower end of the-frame plate 17. The drive sprocket 92 is mounted on a cross shaft or torque tube .93 arranged below the sprocket 31and extending crosswise along the rear edge of the bed frame 11 to the corresponding end supporting mechanism 12 at theother end of the frames 10 and 11 so that the end supporting mechanisms 12 on both sides of the sofa operate in unison upon-rotation of the shaft or tube 93.

If it is desired the frame moving or shifting-mechanism may be automatically operated by a motor'94' (Figs. 7 and 9) which has a suitable reduction gearing (not shown).and which may be mounted on a suitable support 95 at the bottom of the vertical end plate 17 adjacent the shaft 93,and connected in driving relation with the shaft 93 by the gears 96 and 97, the latter being secured on the shaft 93. The motor 94 may be operated by a dial selector switch in conjunction with conventional limit switches, to start and stop the movement of the mechanism and to provide for stopping the movement at the intermediate point where the sofa frame 10 and the bed frame 11 are both in elevated andv aligned position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the double or twin bed arrangement of Fig. 3 the front edge of the sofa frame is supported by lowering a frame 98 whichcomprises a cross bar 99 (Figs. 8 and 9) and end supporting legs 100, with the cross bar pivoted on the pinsx101 to the forward cross bar 102 of the sofa frame. 10. The cross bar members 99 and 102 on the sofa frame 10 are. formed of plate material so that in the sofa position of theframe there is considerable resiliency or flexibility in the. front edge. .When the support frame 98 is swung downwardly about the pivot 101 to provide adequate support for the outer side of the frame in the bed position the plate members 99 and 102 form'a front edge member which is angular in cross section and provide a rigid front edge for the frame. Handles 103 are spaced along the front edge of the cross plate 99 which may be grasped for manual operation and one or more spring catches 103 are providedto hold the frame 98 when itlis retracted or folded as in Fig. 9. The side members of the sofa frame 10-may be provided. with lockingbolts 104 at the rear corners which are adapted to he slid into locking sleeves 105 provided in the front corners of the bed frame 11 when the frames are arranged in double bed relation.

In order to insure that the bell crank arm 75 will remain in its proper position when it is moved to. the bottom of the sprocket 29 until the pivot pin 42 reaches it on the return movement of the latter, a latch plate member 106 may be provided which is pivotally mounted at 107 on a bracket 108 secured on the inside of the front frame plate 16 and urged in counterclockwise direction by a torsion spring 109 with a stop pin 110 limiting the movement of the same. The end of the latch plate 106 is slotted at 111 to receive and hold the end 75 of the bell crank and also beveled at 112 for engagement by the pivot pin 42, the latter moving the plate 106 aside to release the crank arm '75 for clockwise return movement of the sprocket 29.

The outer chain 34 which travels with the sofa bed frame 10 may be guided and supported between the sprockets 28 and 32 by inwardly extending flange members 113 and 114 (Figs. 12 and 13-) on the end frame members 18 and 74, the latter also carrying the cam plate 73 (Fig. 7).

In the illustrated form of the invention the sofa as shown is provided with a depending front cover flap 115 (Figs. 2 to 5) at the front edge thereof and the sofa arms 13 are provided with'hinged front panels 116 which conceal the end support mechanisms 12 when they are in retracted position.

In the sofa position, the lower bed frame 11 issupported by the arms 49 and 55 on the two inner sprockets 29 and 33. The upper sofa frame 10 is supported in the rear by the chain link support pin 42 and the front end of the frame relaxes or rests on the cushion of lower bed frame 11.

The sofa can be changed to a double or single bed by motor drive through the torque tube or rod 93 orby manual pull on the handles 103 of sofa frame 10'. In the case of motor drive the power is transmitted through sprockets 91 and 31 to the sprocket 32 which carries the chain 34 to which the chain link support pin 42 is attached which sets the sofa frame 10 in motion. In the case of band operation the application of power is reversed. Manual pull on sofa frame 10 sets frame 10 in motion which transmits motion through sprockets 32; 31 and 92 to the torque tube 93 which is used to synchronize the operation of both end supporting mechanisms ,12.

Since the chain 34 which carries sofa frame 10 is supported on sprockets 32 and 28, when motion stalts; the chain link support pin '42 rolls up and forwardly about the sprocket 32, raising the rear edge of the frame 10 and the track 45 moves forwardly and up onto roller 47' raising the front edge of the sofa frame 10H Thus the sofa frame 10 is raised off the top of the bed frame 11 and rollsfforwardly without interference.

Inthe meantime'force is applied to the chain pin 71,

9 which is on the same chain 34 as chain link support pin 42. Since pin 71 is held in the slot 63 in the forked plate 64 which is fixed relatir; to the bottom of the sofa arm 13 the force applied to the pin '71 results in the entire end support mechanism 12 moving out of sofa arm 13, the mechanism being supported on the rollers 21 and 25. Front roller 21 will roll down off its track 19 onto the floor and rear roller 25 will roll along its track which drops down at first in order that the sofa frame will not interfere with sofa back and then slopes up to bring the frames 1% and 11 level. The forward travel of the end'support mechanism 12 is halted when the forked plate 64 is pushed down by the cam block 73 which releases the pin 71 and permits the chain to continue to move without movement of the end support mechanism 12.

In the meantime sofa frame 10 has been rolling out of the mechanism. As stop bolt 33 in the end of the track 36 on the frame 10 reaches the roller 39 on pivot arm 41 the roller 61 enters the track 62 and the pivot arm 41 rolls out with the sofa frame it). The pivot roller 57 on the opposite end of the pivot arm 41 rolls in the track 52 on the bed frame 11. As the pivot arm 41 rolls out with the sofa frame 10, it will support and hold the sofa frame 10 in a horizontal position after the track 45 leaves the roller 47.

When the chain link support pin 42 comes in contact with crank arm lever 75, both crank arms 49 and 55 begin to turn as they are connected by the inner chain 35. The crank arms 49 and 55 raise the bed frame 11 in a circular motion while the sofa frame 10 is lowered in a circular motion. The pivot arm 41 still holds the sofa frame 10 level, because the rate at which roller 39 drops is the same rate at which roller 57 raises. Also the crank center distance is the same as the center distance of the chain link support pin 42.

After the crank arms 49 and 55 have moved 90 degrees the double bed position has been reached. If the mechanism is hand operated, bolts 104 at the rear end of the sofa frame 10 can be slid into the lock members 105 at the front end of the bed frame 11. If the mechanism is motor operated, the worm gear reduction in the motor 93 will hold the sofa frame 10 in this position after the limit switch has stopped the motor. The front edge supporting frame 96 on the sofa frame 10 is then swung downwardly to position the legs 1th) for supporting the frame 10 and the double bed position is completed.

If the double bed position is not required, operation of the mechanism can be continued until the crank arms 49 and 55 have turned more than 180 degrees at which time chain link support pin 42 escapes from or moves out of engagement with the crank arm lever 75. The lock lever 106 will hold crank lever 75 so that the movement of the cranks 49 and 55 can not be reversed. The stop pin 85 which is on the same sprocket 33 as crank arm 55 comes to rest against the stop arm 80 which in turn is held in place by trip lever 83. This holds the crank arms 49 and 55 up just past 180 degrees and except for the normal amount of play the crank arms 49 and 55 can not move in either direction of rotation. This holds the bed frame 11 up, providing clearance for the sofa frame 10 to roll under without interference. The forked plate 64 is in the way of pivot pin 42 moving inward on the chain 34 but the cam edges 69 and 70 allow the pin 42 to push the forked plate down and pass by. As pin 42 approaches the end of its travel it engages trip lever 83 and releases the stop arm 30 and stop pin 85 for rotation which in turn allows the crank arms 49 and 55 to rotate. The front of the sofa frame 10 is supported by roller 87 engaging beneath the track 45 when the roller 61 moves out of track 62 ending the support provided by pivot arm 41. Since the crank arms 49 and 55 are free to turn counterclockwise and the pivot arm 41 gives no support to the bed frame 11, the latter relaxes or rests on the cushion of the sofa frame 10 WlllCltit? now in the a ets 10 bottom position. This is the final condition of the mechanism for single bed use.

The stop arm is in front of pivot pin 42, as the return cycle starts, and pin 42 turns the stop arm 80 clockwise which in turn works against stop pin turning the crank arms 49 and 55 clockwise until pin 42 escapes from or moves past the lower end of the stop arm 80 and the trip lever 83 locks the stop arm 80. This action raises the bed frame 11 providing clearance for the sofa frame 10 to move out from beneath the same. The pivot pin 42 moves out until it engages and trips lock plate 106 releasing the crank arm lever 75 which is ready to receive the pin 42 and be pushed back around the shaft 27. As the sofa frame 10 is returning to the sofa position the pin 71 contacts the cam edge 69 of the forked plate 64 and engages in the slot 68 whereupon the entire end support mechanism 12 is returned into the sofa arm 13.

While specific details of construction have been referred to in the illustrated form of the invention it will be understood that other details of construction may be employed within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame arranged in superimposed relation, end support frames and mechanism connecting said seat and bed forming frames to said end support frames for sliding movement of said seat and bed forming frames relative to each other in horizontal and vertical planes to selectively interchange the seat and bed forming frames.

2. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame, end support frames and mechanism connecting said seat and bed forming frames to said end support frames for sliding movement of said seat forming frame relative to said bed forming frame to position the frames in horizontal alignment or to position each one of said frames in the space initially occupied by the other one of said frames.

3. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame, a bed forming frame, end support structures normally supporting said frames in superimposed relation, and mechanism connecting said seat and bed forming frames to said end support structures including means for imparting a sliding and pivotal movement of said frames relative to each other and to said end support structures whereby said seat frame may be moved in vertical and horizontal planes into and out of the position normally occupied by said bed forming frame to provide a seat which rests on the top of the bed or a bed which rests on the top of the seat.

4. A convertible seat and bed construction comprising a pair of generally rectangular frames arranged one above the other when in initial seat forming position, the lowermost frame being provided with a bed structure and the uppermost frame being provided with a seat cushion structure, and means at the ends of said frames for supporting said frames for movement relative to each other, said means including mechanism for supporting the uppermost frame while it is moved horizontally outwardly and then downwardly relatively to the lowermost frame and mechanism to elevate said lowermost frame in response to outward and downward movements of said uppermost frame whereby said uppermost frame may be moved horizontally beneath said lowermost frame to interchange said frames and position the lowermost frame above the uppermost frame.

5. A convertible seat and bed construction comprising a pair of generally rectangular frames arranged one above the other when in initial seat forming position, the lowermost frame being provided with a bed struc ture and; the uppermost frame being provided with a seat cushion structure, and means at the ends of said frames for supporting said frames for movement relative to each other, said means including mechanism for supporting said uppermost frame while it is 'moved horizontally outwardly and then downwardly. relative to said lowermost frame and elevating mechanism for. said lowermost frame which is operative in response to outward and downward movements of said uppermost frame whereby said uppermost frame may be moved horizontally beneath said lowermost frame to interchange said frames and position said lowermost frame above said uppermost frame, said elevating mechanism being arranged to sup port said lowermost frame while it is moving and to release the same for support on said uppermost frame when the latter frame is positioned beneath said lowermost frame.

6. A convertible furniture piece of the sofa type comprising a sofa seat forming frame and 'a bed forming frame normally positioned in superimposed relation, and support structures, mechanism connecting said sofa and bed forming frames to said end support structures for movement of the bed forming frame into and out of the position normally occupied by said sofa seat formingv frame, said mechanism being constructed to rigidlysup: port said frames while they are being moved and to release the frame which is in the uppermost position at the end of its movement for support on the frame which is in the lowermost position.

7. A sofa bed construction comprising a pair of generally rectangular frames arranged one above the other when in initial sofa forming position, the lowermost frame being provided with a bed forming structure and the uppermost frame being provided with a sofa cushion forming structure, and upright rigid frames at the ends of said sofa and bed frames each having means for supporting said sofa and bed frames for movement relative to each' other, said supporting means including a pivot arm having pivotal and sliding connections with the sofa and bed frames and with the rigid end frame for supporting the upper sofa frame while it is moved horizontally outwardly and then downwardly relatively to the lower bed frame and mechanism to elevate said lower bed frame upon outward and downward movement of said upper sofa frame whereby said sofa frame may be moved horizontally beneath said bed frame to interchange said frames and position the bed frame above the sofa frame.

8. A sofa bed construction as recited in claim 7 and the mechanism to elevate said lower bed frame comprising spaced crank arms pivotally mounted on said rigid end frame and pivotally connected to the end of said-lower bed frame which crank arms are simultaneously'rotated to raise the bed frame with a circular motion.

9. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a sleeping bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned'in horizontal alignment or in superimposed relation, and supporting structures and mechanism movably connecting the ends of said seat and bed forming frames to said end supporting structures. said connecting mechanism including a fixed frame having a generally horizontal track, an elongate pivot arm which is pivotally connected at its ends to the ends of said seat and bed frames respectively, said pivot arm having a pivot member intermediate its ends which is slidablyreceived in said track, and associated connecting members whereby said seat frame may be extended in a generally horizontal plane and depressed while the bed frame is raised to position the frames in side-by-side relation and thereafter said seat frame may be further depressed and retracted beneath the bed frame with the weight of the seat frame acting through the pivot arm to balance the weight of the bed frame as the frames move relative to each other and to the fixed frame.

10. A convertible furniture piece comprising a sofa seat forming frame and a sleeping bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned in horizontal align ment or in superimposed relation, end supporting frames and mechanism movably connecting the ends of said s V l2 sofa and bed forming frames to said end supporting frames, said end connecting mechanism including a fixed frame having a generally horizontal track, an elongate pivot arm which is pivotally and slidably connected at its ends to the front and rear ends of said sofa and bed frames respectively, said pivot arm having a pivot member intermediate its ends which is slidably received in said track, and associated connecting members between said-sofa and bed frames whereby said sofa-frame may be extended in a generally horizontal plane and depressed while the bed frame is raised to position the frames in side-by-side relation and thereafter said sofa" frame may be further depressed and retracted while in a lower horizontal plane to position it beneath the bed frame with the weight of the sofa frame acting through the pivot arm to balance the weight of the bed frame as the frames move relative to each other and to the fixed frame of the end connecting mechanism.

11. A convertible furniture piece comprising a sofa seat forming frame and a sleeping bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned in horizontal alignment or in superimposed relation, end supporting frames and mechanism movably connecting the ends of said sofa and bed forming frames to said end supporting frames, said connecting mechanism including a fixed frame having a generally horizontal track, an elongate pivot arm which is pivotally and slidably connected at its ends to the ends ofsaid sofa and 'bed frames, respectively, said pivot arm having a pivot member intermediate its ends which is slidably received in said track, a pair of sprockets mounted on said fixed frame, a chain on said sprockets, a pivot member connecting the rear end of said sofa frame to said chain, a pair of crank arms mounted for pivotal movement about the axis 'of said sprockets, and means connecting said crank arms for movement with said chain when said sofa frame is extended in a generally horizontal plane and depressed whereby the bed frame is raised to position the frames in side-'by-side relation and thereafter said sofa frame may be further depressed and retracted while in a lower horizontal plane to position it beneath the bed frame with the weight of the sofa frame acting through the pivot arm to balance the weight of the bed frame as the frames move relative to each other and to the fixed frame.

12. In a convertible furniture piece, a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned in horizontal alignment or in superimposed relation, end supporting structures comprising a rigid frame having a track mounted thereon, spaced sprocket shafts, inner and outer sprockets on each shaft and a pair of parallel chains connecting the sprockets, a pivot connecting the rear end of said seat forming frame with one of said chains, bracket "arms on the inner sprockets, and pivot connections "between said bracket arms and said bed forming frame, an elongate pivot arm which is pivotally and slidably connected at its ends to the front and rear ends of said seat and bed frames, respectively, said pivot arm having a pivot member intermediate its ends which is slidably received in said track, and means operated upon predetermined movement of said seat frame to connect said chains for simultaneous movement where by when the seat frame is extended and depressed the bed frame is raised to position the frames in side-by-side relation and thereafter said seat frame may be further depressed and retracted beneath the bed frame with the weight of the seat frame acting through the pivot arm to balance the weight of the bed frame as the frames move relative to each other and to the fixed frame.

13. A convertible furniture piece comprising a sofa seat forming frame and a bed forming frame which are adapted to be positioned in superimposed relation, rigid end supporting frames having track formations and mechanism movably connecting the ends of said sofa and bed forming frames to each of said end supporting frames,

said connecting mechanism including a pair of sprockets connecting the ends of the bracket arms with the ends of the bed forming frame, a pivot member connecting the end of the seat forming frame adjacent the rear edge thereof with the outer chain, an elongate pivot arm which is pivotally and slid'ably connected at its ends to the ends of said seat and bed forming frames, respectively, said pivot arm having a pivot member intermediate its ends which is slidably received in the track on the rigid end frame, means movably supporting the rigid end frame, means connecting the outer chain to the rigid end frame to cause the end frame to move forwardly a predetermined distance upon forward movement of the seat forming frame and means connecting the chains for simultaneous movement upon predetermined movement of said seat forming frame whereby when said seat forming frame is extended in a generally horizontal plane and depressed the bed forming frame is raised to position the frames in side-by-side relation and thereafter said sea't forming frame may be further depressed and retracted while in a lower horizontal plane to position it beneath the bed forming frame with the Weight of the sea-t forming frame acting through the pivot arm to balance the Weight of the bed forming frame as the frames move relative to each other and to the rigid end frame.

14. A convertible furniture piece as recited in claim 13 and said track being terminated short of the final position of the pivot member on said pivot arm to release said pivot member when said seat forming frame is in its initial and final positions to allow the uppermost frame to rest on the lowermost frame.

15. A sofa bed construction comprising a pair of generally rectangular frames arranged one above the other when in initial sofa forming position, the lowermost frame being provided with a bed forming structure and the uppermost frame being provided with a sofa cushion forming structure, and supporting and moving means for said frames at the ends there-of, said end supporting and moving means including mechanism for supporting the upper sofa frame and moving it horizontally outwardly and then downwardly relatively to thelower bed fraine,mechanism for supporting said lower' bed frame and for moving the same to an elevated position upon outward and downward movement of said upper sofa frame whereby said sofa frame may be moved horizontally outwardly and then inwardly beneath said bed frame to interchange said frames and position the bed frame above the sofa frame, and a motor drive means connected to said end supporting and moving means for said sofa and bed frames.

16. A sofa bed construction comprising a pair of generally rectangular frames arranged one above the other when in initial sofa forming position, the lowermost frame being provided with a bed forming structure and the uppermost frame being provided with a sofa cushion forming structure, and means at the ends of said frames for supporting and moving said frames relative to each other, said end supporting and moving means including spaced shafts having sprockets mounted thereon and a chain drive connecting the sprockets, the upper sofa frame having a pivotal connection with said drive and being movable with said chain drive horizontally outwardly and then downwardly and inwardly relatively to the lower bed frame, the lower bed frame having separable connections with said shafts and being movable to an elevated position in response to predetermined movements of said chain drive whereby said sofa frame may be moved horizontally outwardly and then inwardly beneath said bed frame to interchange said frames and position the bed frame above the sofa frame, and a motor connected in driving relation with one of said shafts to operate said chain drive.

17. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame normally positioned in superimposed relation, end support structures at opposite ends of said seat and bed forming frames, mechanism for connecting said seat and bed forming frames to said end support structures and for moving said seat and bed forming frames, said mechanism being operative to move each of said frames into and out of the position normally occupied by the other of said frames and a connecting shaft extending between said end support structures for operating said mechanisms simultaneously.

18. In a convertible sofa having a sofa seat forming frame, a bed forming frame, end support frames and mechanism connecting said sofa and bed forming frames to said end support frames for movement of said sofa and bed forming frames relative to each other to convert the sofa frame for use as a bed frame, said sofa frame being formed of relatively rigid members along the ends and rear side edge and having a normally flexible front edge, said front edge consisting of a pair of relatively flexible flat plate members extending in flat face-to-face relation between the rigid end members and having a hinge joint along the outer edge whereby said plate members may be swung relatively to each other to form a substantially rigid angle member when the sofa frame is converted for use as a bed.

19. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame normally positioned in superimposed relation, end support structures at opposite ends of said seat and bed forming frames, mechanism for connecting said seat and bed forming frames to each of said end support structures and for moving said seat and bed forming frames, said mechanism comprising means for moving said frames selectively from their normal superimposed relation into coplanar extended relation or into interchanged relation, and means for operating said mechanisms simultaneouslyincluding a connecting shaft extending between said mechanisms.

20. In a convertible sofa having a sofa seat forming frame, a bed forming frame, end support frames and mechanism connecting said sofa and bed forming frames to said end support frames for movement of said sofa and bed forming frames relative to each other to convert the sofa frame for use as a bed frame, said sofa frame being formed of relatively rigid members along the ends and rear side edge, and a front edge frame structure which is normally flexible, said front edge frame structure comprising relatively flat narrow strip members which connect the rigid end frame members and which are arranged to be rotated relative to each other into angular relation thereby to form a substantially rigid edge structure when the sofa frame is converted for use as a bed.

21. In a convertible sofa having a sofa seat forming frame, a bed forming frame, end support frames and mechanism connecting said sofa and bed forming frames to said end support frames for movement of said sofa and bed forming frames relative to each other to convert the sofa frame for use as a bed frame, said sofa frame being formed of relatively rigid members along the ends and rear side edge and having a normally flexible front edge, said front edge comprising a pair of relatively flexible flat plate members which connect the rigid end members, one of said plate members being mounted for rotation about a longitudinally extending axis to bring it into angular relation with the other of said plate members to form therewith a substantially rigid front edge when the sofa frame is converted for use as a bed.

22. A convertible furniture piece of the sofa type comprising a fixed frame having end arm forming members and a connecting back forming member, a sofa frame and a bed frame initially arranged in superimposed relation with a side portion thereof beneath the back forming member, a supporting structure for said sofa and bed frames having upright end support members mounted for horizontal movement outwardly of the fixed frame to shift the superimposed sofa and bed frames from beneath the back forming member, mechanism connecting said sofa and bed frames to said end support members for relative movement in horizontal and vertical planes, said mechanism being operative to move the sofa frame outwardly to one side of the bed frame, thereafter to move the bed frame vertically upward while simultaneously moving the sofa frame vertically downward and then to move the sofa frame horizontally inward to position the sofa frame beneath the bed frame.

23. A convertible furniture piece of the sofa type comprising a sofa seat forming frame and a bed forming frame normally positioned in superimposed relation, and mechanism. at the ends of said frames for supporting said frames for movement relative to each other to interchange the position of the same, said supporting mechanism comprising a fixed end member and a horizontally movable end member, and means movablyconnecting said seat and bed forming frames to said movable end member, said connecting means being operative to move said sofa frame horizontally from a position above said bed frame to a position'at the forward side of said bed frame and thereafter to simultaneously move the sofa and bed frames vertically relative to each other and to move the sofa frame beneath the bed frame.

24. A convertible furniture piece comprising a seat forming frame and a bed forming frame, end support members for said frames; mechanism connecting said frames to said end support members for movement in horizontal and vertical directions relative to each other and to said end support members, said frames being initially positioned in superimposed relation, said mechanism being operative to move said frames relative to each other horizontally and then vertically into extended side by side coplanar relation, said sofa frame having relatively rigid members along the ends and the rear side thereofv and a pair of relatively narrow flat plate mem-'- bers extending along the forward side which'are initially positioned in generally horizontal planes so as to provide a relatively flexible side edge on said sofa frame, one of said flat plate members being movable when the sofa frame is in extended position to bring it into a generally vertical plane for cooperation with the other plate member to provide a relatively rigid forward side edge on said sofa frame.

25. A'convertible sofa comprising a sofa seat forming frame'and a bed'forming frame normally positioned in superimposed relation; vend support structures, mechanism for movably connecting said sofa and bed forming'frames' to said'end support structures, said mechanism including means" operable to initially move said sofa frame vertically relative to the bed frame, means operable to 'move'said sofa frame horizontally to a position at one side of'said bed frame, means operable to lower said sofa frame and simultaneously elevate said bed frame to position said frames in side by side coplanar relation, and a motor drive connected to said mechanism for operating said means.

26. A'convertible furniture piece of the seat and bed type comprising a fixed support frame having end members and a cross connecting member, a seat frame and a bed frame initially positioned in superimposed relation, upright end support members mounted on said fixed support frame for limited movement in a horizontal direction, mechanism connecting the ends of said seat and sofa frames to said upright end members for movement in horipontal and vertical'directions relative to each other andtosaid upright end members, said connecting mechanism being operative to move said seat frame outwardly in a horizontal direction to a position at one side of the bed frame to lower the seat frame and simultaneously to elevate the bed frame while they are in side bysideposition thereby to bring the seat and bed frames into different horizontal planes and to move the sofa frame in a reverse horizontal direction to a position beneath the bed frame.

27. A convertible furniture piece as recited in claim 26, and mechanism.fornlockingsaid sofa and seat frames in side by side coplanar relationship to form a double bed.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,381,293 Ffeeman- June 14, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,057 Austria Mar. 10, 1903 132,804 Sweden Sept. 4, 1951 

